26 U.S. Code § 422 - Incentive stock options

Section
421(a) shall apply with respect to the transfer of a share of stock to an individual pursuant to his exercise of an incentive stock option if—

(1)no disposition of such share is made by him within 2 years from the date of the granting of the option nor within 1 year after the transfer of such share to him, and

(2)at all times during the period beginning on the date of the granting of the option and ending on the day 3 months before the date of such exercise, such individual was an employee of either the corporation granting such option, a parent or subsidiary corporation of such corporation, or a corporation or a parent or subsidiary corporation of such corporation issuing or assuming a stock option in a transaction to which section
424(a) applies.

(b) Incentive stock option

For purposes of this part, the term “incentive stock option” means an option granted to an individual for any reason connected with his employment by a corporation, if granted by the employer corporation or its parent or subsidiary corporation, to purchase stock of any of such corporations, but only if—

(1)the option is granted pursuant to a plan which includes the aggregate number of shares which may be issued under options and the employees (or class of employees) eligible to receive options, and which is approved by the stockholders of the granting corporation within 12 months before or after the date such plan is adopted;

(2)such option is granted within 10 years from the date such plan is adopted, or the date such plan is approved by the stockholders, whichever is earlier;

(3)such option by its terms is not exercisable after the expiration of 10 years from the date such option is granted;

(4)the option price is not less than the fair market value of the stock at the time such option is granted;

(5)such option by its terms is not transferable by such individual otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and is exercisable, during his lifetime, only by him; and

(6)such individual, at the time the option is granted, does not own stock possessing more than 10 percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the employer corporation or of its parent or subsidiary corporation.

Such term shall not include any option if (as of the time the option is granted) the terms of such option provide that it will not be treated as an incentive stock option.

(c) Special rules

(1) Good faith efforts to value of stock

If a share of stock is transferred pursuant to the exercise by an individual of an option which would fail to qualify as an incentive stock option under subsection (b) because there was a failure in an attempt, made in good faith, to meet the requirement of subsection (b)(4), the requirement of subsection (b)(4) shall be considered to have been met. To the extent provided in regulations by the Secretary, a similar rule shall apply for purposes of subsection (d).

(2) Certain disqualifying dispositions where amount realized is less than value at exercise

If—

(A)an individual who has acquired a share of stock by the exercise of an incentive stock option makes a disposition of such share within either of the periods described in subsection (a)(1), and

(B)such disposition is a sale or exchange with respect to which a loss (if sustained) would be recognized to such individual,

then the amount which is includible in the gross income of such individual, and the amount which is deductible from the income of his employer corporation, as compensation attributable to the exercise of such option shall not exceed the excess (if any) of the amount realized on such sale or exchange over the adjusted basis of such share.

(3) Certain transfers by insolvent individuals

If an insolvent individual holds a share of stock acquired pursuant to his exercise of an incentive stock option, and if such share is transferred to a trustee, receiver, or other similar fiduciary in any proceeding under title 11 or any other similar insolvency proceeding, neither such transfer, nor any other transfer of such share for the benefit of his creditors in such proceeding, shall constitute a disposition of such share for purposes of subsection (a)(1).

(4) Permissible provisions

An option which meets the requirements of subsection (b) shall be treated as an incentive stock option even if—

(A)the employee may pay for the stock with stock of the corporation granting the option,

(B)the employee has a right to receive property at the time of exercise of the option, or

(C)the option is subject to any condition not inconsistent with the provisions of subsection (b).

Subparagraph (B) shall apply to a transfer of property (other than cash) only if section
83 applies to the property so transferred.

(5) 10-percent shareholder rule

Subsection (b)(6) shall not apply if at the time such option is granted the option price is at least 110 percent of the fair market value of the stock subject to the option and such option by its terms is not exercisable after the expiration of 5 years from the date such option is granted.

(6) Special rule when disabled

For purposes of subsection (a)(2), in the case of an employee who is disabled (within the meaning of section
22(e)(3)), the 3-month period of subsection (a)(2) shall be 1 year.

(7) Fair market value

For purposes of this section, the fair market value of stock shall be determined without regard to any restriction other than a restriction which, by its terms, will never lapse.

(d) $100,000 per year limitation

(1) In general

To the extent that the aggregate fair market value of stock with respect to which incentive stock options (determined without regard to this subsection) are exercisable for the 1st time by any individual during any calendar year (under all plans of the individual’s employer corporation and its parent and subsidiary corporations) exceeds $100,000, such options shall be treated as options which are not incentive stock options.

(2) Ordering rule

Paragraph (1) shall be applied by taking options into account in the order in which they were granted.

(3) Determination of fair market value

For purposes of paragraph (1), the fair market value of any stock shall be determined as of the time the option with respect to such stock is granted.

Subsec. (c)(5) to (8). Pub. L. 101–508, § 11801(c)(9)(C)(ii), redesignated pars. (6) to (8) as (5) to (7), respectively, and struck out former par. (5) “Coordination with sections
422 and
424” which read as follows: “Sections
422 and
424 shall not apply to an incentive stock option.”

1988—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 100–647, § 1003(d)(1)(A), inserted at end “Such term shall not include any option if (as of the time the option is granted) the terms of such option provide that it will not be treated as an incentive stock option.”

Subsec. (b)(7). Pub. L. 100–647, § 1003(d)(2)(B), struck out par. (7) which read as follows: “under the terms of the plan, the aggregate fair market value (determined at the time the option is granted) of the stock with respect to which incentive stock options are exercisable for the 1st time by such individual during any calendar year (under all such plans of the individual’s employer corporation and its parent and subsidiary corporations) shall not exceed $100,000.”

1986—Subsec. (b)(7). Pub. L. 99–514, § 321(a), added par. (7) and struck out former par. (7) which read as follows: “such option by its terms is not exercisable while there is outstanding (within the meaning of subsection (c)(7)) any incentive stock option which was granted, before the granting of such option, to such individual to purchase stock in his employer corporation or in a corporation which (at the time of the granting of such option) is a parent or subsidiary corporation of the employer corporation, or in a predecessor corporation of any of such corporations; and”.

Subsec. (b)(8). Pub. L. 99–514, § 321(a), struck out par. (8) which read as follows: “in the case of an option granted after December 31, 1980, under the terms of the plan the aggregate fair market value (determined as of the time the option is granted) of the stock for which any employee may be granted incentive stock options in any calendar year (under all such plans of his employer corporation and its parent and subsidiary corporation) shall not exceed $100,000 plus any unused limit carryover to such year.”

Subsec. (c)(7). Pub. L. 99–514, § 321(b)(1), redesignated par. (9) as (7) and struck out former par. (7) which provided that for purposes of subsec. (b)(7) any incentive stock option be treated as outstanding until such option was exercised in full or expired by reason of lapse of time.

Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 97–448, § 102(j)(2), substituted “Good faith efforts to value stock” for “Exercise of option when price is less than value of stock” as par. (1) heading and inserted sentence providing that, to the extent provided in regulations by the Secretary, a rule similar to that already enunciated in the paragraph applies for purposes of par. (8) of subsec. (b) and par. (4) of subsec. (c).

Amendment by Pub. L. 100–647effective, except as otherwise provided, as if included in the provision of the Tax Reform Act of 1986, Pub. L. 99–514, to which such amendment relates, see section 1019(a) ofPub. L. 100–647, set out as a note under section
1 of this title.

Amendment by section 1847(b)(5) ofPub. L. 99–514effective, except as otherwise provided, as if included in the provisions of the Tax Reform Act of 1984, Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, to which such amendment relates, see section 1881 ofPub. L. 99–514, set out as a note under section
48 of this title.

Effective Date of 1984 Amendment

Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title V, § 555(c)(1),July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 898, as amended by Pub. L. 99–514, title XVIII, § 1855(a)(1),Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2882, provided that: “The amendment made by subsection (a)(1) [amending this section] shall apply to options granted after March 20, 1984, except that such subsection shall not apply to any incentive stock option granted before September 20, 1984, pursuant to a plan adopted or corporate action taken by the board of directors of the grantor corporation before May 15, 1984.”

Amendment by section 2662 ofPub. L. 98–369effective as though included in the enactment of the Social Security Amendments of 1983, Pub. L. 98–21, see section 2664(a) ofPub. L. 98–369, set out as a note under section
401 of Title
42, The Public Health and Welfare.

Effective Date of 1983 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 97–448effective, except as otherwise provided, as if it had been included in the provision of the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981, Pub. L. 97–34, to which such amendment relates, see section 109 ofPub. L. 97–448, set out as a note under section
1 of this title.

“(A) In general.—Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the amendments made by this section [enacting this section and amending sections
421,
425 [now 424], and 6039 of this title] shall apply with respect to options granted on or after January 1, 1976, and exercised on or after January 1, 1981, or outstanding on such date.

“(B) Election and designation of options.—In the case of an option granted before January 1, 1981, the amendments made by this section shall apply only if the corporation granting such option elects (in the manner and at the time prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury or his delegate) to have the amendments made by this section apply to such option. The aggregate fair market value (determined at the time the option is granted) of the stock for which any employee was granted options (under all plans of his employer corporation and its parent and subsidiary corporations) to which the amendments made by this section apply by reason of this subparagraph shall not exceed $50,000 per calendar year ans shall not exceed $200,000 in the aggregate.

“(2) Changes in terms of options.—In the case of an option granted on or after January 1, 1976, and outstanding on the date of the enactment of this Act [Aug. 13, 1981], paragraph (1) of section 425(h) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 [formerly I.R.C. 1954] shall not apply to any change in the terms of such option (or the terms of the plan under which granted, including shareholder approval) made within 1 year after such date of enactment to permit such option to qualify as a incentive stock option.”

Savings Provision

For provisions that nothing in amendment by Pub. L. 101–508be construed to affect treatment of certain transactions occurring, property acquired, or items of income, loss, deduction, or credit taken into account prior to Nov. 5, 1990, for purposes of determining liability for tax for periods ending after Nov. 5, 1990, see section 11821(b) ofPub. L. 101–508, set out as a note under section
45K of this title.

Treatment of Options as Incentive Stock Options

Pub. L. 100–647, title I, § 1003(d)(1)(B),Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3384, provided that: “In the case of an option granted after December 31, 1986, and on or before the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 10, 1988], such option shall not be treated as an incentive stock option if the terms of such option are amended before the date 90 days after such date of enactment to provide that such option will not be treated as an incentive stock option.”

Plan Amendments Not Required Until January 1, 1989

For provisions directing that if any amendments made by subtitle A or subtitle C of title XI [§§ 1101–1147 and
1171–1177] or title XVIII [§§ 1800–1899A] of Pub. L. 99–514require an amendment to any plan, such plan amendment shall not be required to be made before the first plan year beginning on or after Jan. 1, 1989, see section 1140 ofPub. L. 99–514, as amended, set out as a note under section
401 of this title.

Written determinations for this section

These documents, sometimes referred to as "Private Letter Rulings", are taken from the IRS Written Determinations page; the IRS also publishes a fuller explanation of what they are and what they mean. The collection is updated (at our end) daily. It appears that the IRS updates their listing every Friday.

Note that the IRS often titles documents in a very plain-vanilla, duplicative way. Do not assume that identically-titled documents are the same, or that a later document supersedes another with the same title. That is unlikely to be the case.

Release dates appear exactly as we get them from the IRS. Some are clearly wrong, but we have made no attempt to correct them, as we have no way guess correctly in all cases, and do not wish to add to the confusion.